China hopes to work together with neighboring countries to strengthen border control and curb gambling along borders, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said on Tuesday.

According to recent reports, several Chinese citizens from north China's Shanxi Province were kidnapped and held for ransom when they had been lured to casinos along the border of Myanmar and China's southwestern Yunnan Province, Qin said. The exact time was unspecified.

"The foreign ministry has instructed China's embassy to Myanmar to verify relevant circumstances, and required the Myanmar side to investigate into that case (mentioned above) immediately and take measures to ensure the freedom and safety of Chinese citizens," Qin Gang told a regular briefing, without giving further details.

The Chinese government pays high attention to the problem of Chinese nationals gambling in casinos along its borders, and hopes to cooperate with those countries to strengthen border control and curb gambling, Qin said.

China has long banned gambling together with prostitution and drugs, but in recent years a growing number of wealthy Chinese, including some corrupt officials, are gambling away millions in casinos outside the Chinese mainland. Myanmar was one of those popular destinations.

"China also hopes that our citizens and people from neighboring countries will abide by laws and safeguard security and stability along border areas," Qin said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 10, 2009)